Automatic or power-driven distributer for filter-beds and the like.



F. G. S. HAM. AUTOMATIG 0R POWER DRIVEN DISTRIBUTBR FOR FILTER BEDS ANDTHE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED 001'. 7, 1910.

1 997,058. Patented July 4,1911.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON. I). C.

F. G. S. HAM. AUTOMATIC 0R POWER DRIVEN DISTRIBUTER FOR FILTER BEDS ANDTHE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED OOT- 7, 1910.

997,058, Patented July 4, 1911.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

mice'scs e3 ,fizamioz" fiedam'cpmw COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co, WASHINGTON,Ii. 0.

- F. G. s. HAM. AUTOMATIC 0R POWER DRIVEN DISTRIBUTER FOR FILTER BEDSAND THE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED 001'. 7, 1910.

Patented July 4, 1911.

5 SHEETSSHEET 3.

COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH $0., WASHINGTON, n. c.

P. G. S HAM. AUTOMATIC OR POWER DRIVEN DISTRIBUTER FOR FILTER BEDS ANDTHE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED 0017, 1910.

997,058, Patented July 4,1911.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Z 7zve n for Frederic Lg. Hawa COLUMBIA PLANDIJRAPH CO" WASHINGTON, D.C.

F. G. S. HAM. AUTOMATIC 0R POWER DRIVEN DISTRIBUTER FOR FILTER BEDS ANDTHE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED 001'. 7, 1910.

997,058. Patented July 4,1911.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

I" 67" vcj: @770 W Jared! ac 7i COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0., WASHINGTON, D.c.

FREDERIC GEORGE SISON HAM, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

AUTOMATIC 0R POWER-DRIVEN DISTRIBUTER FOR FILTER-BEDS AND THE LIKE,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 4, 1911.

Application filed October 7, 1910. Serial No. 585,823.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDnRIo GEORGE SISON HAM, a subject of the King ofGreat Britain, residing at London, England, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in or Relating to Automatic or Power-DrivenDistributors for Filter-Beds and the Like, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to an apparatus for distribution of sewage orliquids upon filter beds and the like, and comprises the hereinafterdescribed improvements whereby (1) The dispersal of aerial nuisances andthe dissemination of disease germs are inhibited. (2) The heat of thesewage is conserved and the effects of low temperatures minimized. Thisdistribution is rendered more uniform and at the same time capable of awider range of variation than in the usual form of distributingapparatus. (4) The reversal of the distributer is obtained without thereversal of the driving mechanism.

My improvements in distributors for filter beds and the like areillustrated in the annexed drawings in which Figure 1 is a cross sectionof the feed tubes carrying the liquid across the filter bed and showingthe cover with its supporting means, also the bafiie tube between thefeed tubes. Fig. 1 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a slightmodification in the construction. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectionthrough a a of Fig. 1 showing a portion of the length of tubes, andshowing more clearly the construction of bracket clip supporting thefeed tubes. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the center carriage carryingthe transverse feed tubes before referred to. Fig. 4.- is a frontelevation, and Fig. 5 a plan of the central portion of the travelingdistributer showing the reversing gear etc.

In the construction of a distributer in accordance with this inventionthe feed tube or tubes 1, 1, carrying the liquid across the filter bed 2is or are incased by a covering 3 of sheet metal, wood, canvas, or otherlight material carried on a suitable frame work 4 and preferably soarranged as to leave a space between the tubes and the covering.

The cover I employ has preferably a flexible lower edge or edges 5, 5,either formed as part of the cover 3 itself, or attached thereto in sucha way that it impinges upon or leaves the smallest practicable spacebetween it and the surface of the filter.

The cover 3 if not itself of a non-conducting material may be providedwith a lining of such material, and at the same time the air spacebetween the cover and the tubes 1, 1, will constitute or may be utilizedas a protection against low temperature of the outer atmosphere.

6 is a bracket clip for supporting the tubes 1, 1, from the frame 4 bymeans of the hangers or suspension bolts 8, 8. The frame 4 is supportedfrom the central girder 9 by the bolts 10.

In the case of distributers for circular beds the feed supply may beconducted to the machine by a completely closed pipe properly protectedfrom the weather and at the same time prevented from diffusing noxiousgases and smell.

For the purpose of better regulation of the distribution I employpreferably two feed tubes 1, 1, before mentioned, between which Isuspend, by means of screwed suspension bolts 11, 11, or otheradjustable connectors from the central girder 9 a battle or dividingplate or plates 13, 13, for prefer ence of tubular section as shown inthe drawings, and of such size as when passed be tween the aforesaidfeed tubes 1, 1, will fill up nearly the whole of the space between themat the narrowest part, viz: in the position shown in the drawings, or Imay make the bafile tube slightly larger in diameter or section than thespace between the feed tubes at the narrowest parts, to facilitatecontrol of the distribution and to enable any particular section to beentirely out out of the action, as shown by Fig. 1 but when passedbeyond, or in the case of the larger tube, not quite reaching thiscentral or narrowest point, a horizontal gap or passage 14: is left oneach side of the battle 13 through which the sewage will be evenlydistributed from the feed tubes 1, 1, by way of the orifices 15, 15, andconducted without splashing onto the surface of the filter by the lowersegments of the bafile plate 13 and feed tubes 1, 1.

16, 16, are guide pins on the ends of the movable baflie tubes 13, whichwork between guide cheeks 17 17 on the frame. By raising or lowering thebaffle plate or tube 13 as a whole, by means of the screw suspensionbolts 11, 11, the amount of fluid which may pass on to the bed islessened or increased, and by raising or lowering individual sections Imay vary the amount of liquid which may pass on to the portion of thebed directly underneath any particular section, or fed by that sectionor sections as compared with the others. Similarly I may by control ofthese sections neutralize or equalize any difference of flow which wouldother-wise take place due to irregularities of construction or to theposition of the section with regard to the inlet. At the same time :I-soconstruct the baffle 13 and place the feed tubes 1, 1, that the liquidis carried as near as is practicableto the bed surface and may leave thebaflil-e l3 and the adjoining feed tubes 1, 1, in such a way thatsplashing is, as far as possible, prevented. I may however, modify thedetails of'themeans of distributing above described.

My invention further consists in mecha nism for providing for thereversal of the distributers at'the end of the travel in eitherdirection, though I may if desired utilize known methods of reversal tooperate my special distributer.

The drawings show the'distributer moved along the filter bed by means ofa rope moving around a drum driven by power.

My invention provides for the reversing gear to be on the distributeritself, and in such manner that the driving mechanism always rotates inthe same direction, the rope moving along each bed in one direction andback again in the other'thus forming a continuous drive. I obtain thisobject by clipping the rope alternately as it travels in one directionor the other.

Referring to Figs. 3, 4: and 5, the clip for coupling the rope to themachine in one direction of travel automatically releases itself fromthe rope at the end of the required travel while the alternate clipautomatically couples up to the return rope so that the machine maytravel in the opposite direction. This is efl'ected by means'of twotubes 18, 18, mounted on a horizontal shaft 19, one on either side ofthe central girder 9, and connected toeach other by a tube 20, the twotubes 18, 18, being so arranged that they maybe rocked freely on theshaft 19 in either direction, till their center of gravity is far enoughat one side or the'other of the horizontal shaft 19. Their trunnions ormountings then engage with pegs or projections on the horizontal shaftand cause it to turn.

Thehorizontal shaft 19 is provided with levers 21, one at either end andon either side of the center of the'shaft 19; these levers are securelyfixed to the shaft 19 and are connected by means of suitable links 22gear may however be modified.

The action is as follows :VVhen the machine nears the end of its travelin one direction the high side of one tube 18 vcomes into contact with astop, and is gradually lowered as the machine travels till the tube 18over-balances, taking with it the other rocking tube, and turning thehorizontal shaft 19, thereby one lever 21 is raised while the otherlever is depressed, thus removing the gripping piece 25 from the rope'26 or 26 and forcing the other gripping piece against the rope at theother side and reversing the travel of the machine. At the other end ofthe bed, or at any required point the action is reversed and the machineis again made to travel on its return journey.

WVhat I do claim as my inventiomand desire to secure by Letters Patentis 1. In a distributer for filter beds and the like, the combinationwith a filter bed, of feed tube meansdisposed over the bed, and anon-conducting covering for the feed tube means, a space being formedbetween the feed tube means and covering.

2. In a distributor for filter beds and the like, the combination with afilter bed, of feed tube means disposed over the bed, and adjustablebattle means for regulating the distribution of the liquid from the feedtube means relatively to the bed.

3. In a distributer for filter beds and the like, the combination with afilter bed, of feed tube means disposed over the bed, adjustable bafflemeans for regulating the distribution of the liquid from the feed tubemeans relatively to the bed, and a non-conducting covering'for the feedtube and baflle means and spaced from the latter.

4:. In a distributer for filter beds and the like, the combination witha filter bed, of feed tubes disposed over the bed, andtubular bafilemeans adjustably disposed between and out of contact with relation tothetubes for regulating the distribution of the liquid 1 from the tubesrelatively to the bed.

5. In a distributer for filter beds and the like, the combination with afilter bed, of feed tubes disposed over the bed, tubular baflie meansadjustably disposed between and out of contact with relation to thetubes for regulating the distribution of theliquid from thetubesrelatively to thebed, and a non-conducting cover for the tubesand'baflie means and spaced from the latter.

6. In a distributer for filter beds and the like, the combination with afilter bed, of feed tube means disposed overthe bed, and anon-conducting covering inclosing the feed tube means andhaving flexiblelower edges.

7. In a distributer for filter beds and the In testimony whereof I havehereunto set like, the combination with a filter bed, of my hand inpresence of two subscribing Witfeed tubes disposed over the bed, andsecnesses.

tional bafile tubes adjustably interposed be- FREDERIO GEORGE SISON HAM.5 tween and out of contact With the tubes to Witnesses:

regulate the distribution of the liquid rel- NM. 0. BROWN,

atively to the filter bed. F. C. SMITH.

Ziopiesof this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

